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Annual Review

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4 Chairman’s Report

6 Furniture Review 2013

7 Desk and Chair

8 Hall Table

10 ‘Ski’ Desk

12 Candlesticks

12 Lamp Table

12 Cufflink Box

12 Coffee Table

12 Coat Stand

13 Hall Chair

14 Library Steps

14 Chairs

15 Collector’s Cabinet

16 Extending Dining Table

18 ‘Treasure’ Chest

20 Rocking Chair

22 Bookcase

24 People in 2013

26 Workshop Review

28 The Year Ahead

30 Educational Trust Profile

33 Past Trainees

34 Educational Trust Appeal

Contents

Review 2013

Edward Barnsley (centre c. 1933)

Furniture makers since 1923

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Most furniture created in the Barnsley Workshop is made to order. Our work is as diverse as our clients’ requirements so, instead of producing a brochure of standard pieces, we publish an annual review of the work carried out in the workshop over the previous year. The Review also explains the work of the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust.

Throughout his working life Edward Barnsley (1900-1987) was a furniture maker who sought to uphold and develop the values of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His father, Sidney Barnsley, was inspired by the ideas of William Morris and worked in the Cotswolds as an influential furniture maker. Edward Barnsley was educated at Bedales School. In 1920 he assisted Geoffrey Lupton in the construction of the Bedales Library. Edward Barnsley took over Lupton’s Froxfield workshop in 1923 and, helped by a group of loyal craftsmen, spent his life making furniture to commission. It was sometimes a financial struggle but he established a workshop that continues today to produce furniture made to the highest standards.

Not only did Edward Barnsley want his clients to take pleasure using the furniture he made for them, he also wanted his craftsmen to be fulfilled by using their skills to make furniture of the highest quality. He showed a way for a contemporary workshop to make furniture in the spirit of the Arts and Crafts ideals.

Edward Barnsley was particularly fond of these lines by D. H. Lawrence:

Introduction

Things men have made with wakened hands,And put soft life intoAre awake through years with transferred touchAnd go on glowing for long years.And for this reason some old things are lovelyWarm still with the life of forgotten men who made them.

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Chairman’s Report

Firstly, I would like to draw attention to a significant anniversary

for our workshop. This year, it is ninety years since Geoffrey Lupton decided to offer his workshop and business to a young Edward Barnsley.

Through my own business, Morgan Furniture, I have an interest in the furniture industry as a whole and I am keen to contribute to shaping its vision for the future, particularly through training. The Edward Barnsley Educational Trust’s apprentice training scheme sets a wonderful example and it continues to develop and evolve. 2013 saw the introduction of short time-trial projects to act as benchmark tests for the foundation apprentices. This has proved very beneficial in building the apprentices’ confidence and encourages their efficient working. Our plan to safeguard the future of our timber sheds from the danger of landslip has developed further. We are now working on a scheme that will upgrade and improve all the workshop buildings. One key aim of this plan is to improve the accessibility and interpretation of our archive to visitors. We have seen a marked increase in the number of organized group visits to the workshop. Our workshop tours are extremely popular with special interest groups, such as NADFAS and the Art Fund. This shows me there is a wide appreciation of well-designed and well-crafted furniture and how important it is to pass on these skills to a new generation.

Rodney McMahon

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Furniture Review 2013

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Desk and ChairDesigned by James Ryan. The desk in solid oak and pippy oak veneer with brown oak inlay was made by Will Church. The chair was made by Joe Orchard.

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Hall TableOur clients provided us with the timber from a walnut tree that came down on their farm. They were very keen that the wood should be used to make a piece of furniture for their house. The walnut is beautifully figured, but it was a challenge to select enough wood to make the piece. The holly for the inlay also came from the clients’ woodland.Designed by James Ryan and made by Joe Orchard.

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‘Ski’ DeskThis desk was made for a client who wanted James to work into the design a reference to his love of skiing. James achieved this on the legs by suggesting the profile of a ski. The cable tidy in the centre of the top is inspired by the shape of the basket on the end of a ski pole. The top of the desk has a star-burst pattern in macassar ebony. Other timbers used on this piece were walnut, sycamore and bog oak. Made by Chris Wallis.

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Hall ChairThis chair incorporates a marquetry version of the client’s family coat of arms inlaid in the back.Designed by James Ryan and made in walnut with sycamore stringing by Tom Keogh.

Opposite PageClockwise from top left:Candlesticks in oak made by Andrew MarshLamp table in walnut made by Andrew MarshCuff-link box in rippled sycamore and oak made by Paulo de VasconcelosCoffee table in pippy oak made by Tom KeoghCoat stand in oak and bog oak made by Tom Keogh

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ChairsAll three made by Jouni Heikkinen. The two side chairs in olive ash were designed by James Ryan. The centre carver chair in walnut is an Edward Barnsley design.

Library StepsThis is the Mark III version of our popular library steps. Designed by James Ryan and made by Will Chuch in fumed oak.

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Collector’s CabinetDesigned to display a collection of “Vesta” match cases. A special feature is that all six drawers are interchangeable and can be easily swapped around to display different contents in the illuminated and glazed upper section of the cabinet.Designed by James Ryan and made by Will Church in cherry and sycamore.

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Extending Dining TableA key requirement of this table was that the extending mechanism could be effortlessly operated by one person. We used high quality runners and custom-made fittings to achieve a very light and precise movement. This table was designed by James Ryan and made by Chris Wallis in walnut with sycamore inlay.

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‘Treasure’ ChestThis box has a hidden lock, which adds some mystery to the design.Designed by James Ryan and made by Joe Orchard in pippy yew, bog oak and rippled sycamore.

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Rocking ChairFor a rocking chair to work well it needs to be comfortable. To achieve this James Ryan based the back of this new rocking chair on the deeply-curved and supportive profile used on our popular ‘Bow’ chair. With its even black finish and smooth joints this new chair looks as though it might have been sculpted from one large block of wood. In fact, it is made from many pieces of oak skilfully carved by Jouni Heikkinen. He gave the completed chair its open-grained black finish by scorching it with a heat gun and scrubbing it with a wire brush.

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BookcaseWe were asked to design this piece to organise and store Steep Church’s hymn books. Designed by James Ryan and made in oak by Paulo de Vasconcelos.

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All Saints’ Church, SteepOver the years the Barnsley Workshop has made a number of pieces for Steep Church.This page, clockwise from top left:Oak Stallboard 1935Same Stallboard 2013Entrance DoorsOrgan Screen c. 1954Cabinet for Memorial Book c. 1990

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People in 2013

James RyanDesigner-Manager

Robin HasslacherTreasurer

Stephen RockCraftsman-Tutor

Joe OrchardSenior Craftsman

Chris WallisCraftsman

Harriet WoodWork Experience Student

Gary FergusonPupil

Abbie AdamsBedales Scholarship Student

Jouni HeikkinenPupil from Finland

Pupils and Work Experience Placements

Staff

Paulo de VasconcelosSecond-Year Apprentice

Andrew MarshSecond-Year Apprentice

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Tom KeoghApprenticeTom spent two years with us in the Workshop. During his time he became a very skilled furniture maker. He has moved on to employment in a prestigious workshop.

Will ChurchApprenticeWill has been with us for three years. He has been an important member of the team. We are pleased his training with us has enabled him to find a good job in a good furniture workshop.

Danny HumphreysFoundation ApprenticeDanny joined the Workshop in September. He came to us having completed two years at the Building Crafts College in East London, where he studied cabinet-making.

David WilliamsFoundation ApprenticeDavid joined us in September from Moulton College where he studied furniture-making for three years.

Gilly AndersonTrust SecretaryGilly joined the Trust in 2006 and quickly became a key person. She has infectious enthusiasm and as our fund-raiser she built up strong relationships with our supporters. She supported James and the trustees tirelessly. She will be sorely missed. We wish her well in her retirement, but hope she will be back to help on occasional Open Days.

Departures

New Apprentices

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Workshop Reviewby Designer-Manager James Ryan

As usual working to commission inspired me to come up with some new designs this year. One of my favourites was the writing desk in oak and burr oak (see p.6). I am particularly pleased with the shape of the legs and the soft curves of the upper drawers Another piece I am pleased with is the extending circular table (see p.16) that incorporates a folding butterfly leaf. I managed to create an opening mechanism that was light enough to operate with one hand.

TrainingWe are fortunate to attract good candidates and the standard of applicants for this year’s apprenticeships was very high. We staged our customary trial days. David Williams from Moulton College and Danny Humphreys were the two to whom we offered places. We offered Paulo de Vasconcelos and Andrew Marsh a further year of training to build on their foundation

year. Jouni Heikkinen joined us as a pupil from Finland and he very quickly impressed us with the quality of his craftsmanship. It was also a great pleasure to welcome Gary Ferguson, who joined us as a fee-paying pupil in September. Gary was very appreciative of the opportunity to train in the workshop.

Exhibitions and Events 2013In 2013 we exhibited furniture at the following venues:The Goldsmiths’ Centre, ClerkenwellNADFAS annual general meetingGoldsmiths’ Company Pavilion at Somerset HouseMasterpiece London 2013, Royal Hospital, ChelseaWorkshop Open Saturdays in March, May and October In terms of marketing and promotion, our most important event of the year was Masterpiece London. We were exhibiting for the fourth year running at

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this prestigious international art and antiques fair. I was particularly pleased to present my new jewellery box designs, which incorporate a secret opening mechanism. Although it was perhaps not quite so secret judging by the number of people who viewed it! It was also wonderful to demonstrate the piston-fit trays that drop into place on a cushion of air.

Public RelationsAs ever Tracy Bates of Esprit PR worked hard on our behalf. We achieved coverage in a number of publications. Country & Town House Magazine featured the Library Steps. Vantage Magazine featured the ‘Silhouette’ drinks cabinet. Mayfair Magazine featured the ‘Ski’ Desk. FT How To Spend It featured the ‘Clamshell’ jewellery box. We have also been building our profiles on various social media platforms including Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin.

The Andrew Varah ScholarshipIn June 2013, the Furniture Makers’ Company launched a bursary in memory of Andrew Varah and we are very pleased that our apprentice, David Williams, is the first recipient of that award.

VisitorsWe continue to welcome visitors to the workshop and showroom from near and far. Last year we had visitors from many countries including Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and the United States. Organized tours of the workshop are becoming ever more popular. We had

visits from a lot of special interest groups and from groups of students attending furniture-making courses.

Building ProjectRegular readers of our Annual Review will know that we have been working on a plan to safeguard the future of our Grade II listed timber-drying sheds, which are threatened by land slip at the rear of the workshop. Last year we were granted the necessary planning permission for our proposal. Local Architect Peter Allchurch deserves a great deal of thanks for developing the scheme and guiding us to success in the planning process. Our investigations into funding this project have led to us applying for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The scope of the work goes beyond just the buildings and will also involve making our archive of Edward Barnsley’s drawings and correspondence easier to access. We will also be looking at ways to make parts of the workshop more visitor friendly.

Tree on WorkshopThe high winds in December bought down a tree which blocked Cockshott Lane but luckily only caused minor damage to the machine shop roof. Christmas Eve was not the best day to have to deal with this type of emergency. However, Matt Marriot of Sequoia Tree Surgeons was absolutely brilliant and had it all cleared away safely and neatly by mid afternoon. Special thanks also to Tim and Catherine, our neighbours, who were very helpful.

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Bedales ScholarshipBen Shaw, head of design at Bedales School, selected Abbie Adams, one of his A2 Design and Technology students, to benefit from a mentoring prize. I had meetings with Abbie to talk through her initial concepts and to help her develop her chosen concept further. She spent three days at a bench in our workshop doing practical exercises that were relevant to her project. I am extremely impressed with Abbie’s final piece and I am very glad to have helped in some small part.

Bespoke GuildmarkI am currently serving as chairman of the Furniture Makers’ Company Bespoke Guildmark Committee. This is all about raising standards and rewarding superb design and craftsmanship of bespoke furniture made in the UK.

The Year AheadWe have some interesting projects to look forward to in 2014 including an oak kitchen table made out of the clients’ own timber and a pair of collector’s cabinets for displaying early American bank notes. We will also be working on a chair design to furnish an Oxford college dining hall. We are looking forward to exhibiting again at Masterpiece London in June and we will hold three Workshop Open Saturdays this year.Enquiries about our Foundation Apprenticeship

AcknowledgementsPeter Allchurch Jenny BroadheadCapital Crispin VeneersGareth CapnerRobin CarterMichel Focard de FontefiguieresPaul MartinLorna Smallbone (donation of her father’s tools)

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Email ContactAt the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust we would like to stay in touch with our supporters via email. If you would like to be kept informed of Edward Barnsley Workshop news and events please let us know by sending an email to enquiries@barnsley-furniture.co.uk. Alternatively, go to our website and click the email link on the Contact Us page.You can unsubscribe at any point in the future. We will not pass your details on to a third party.

continue to be numerous, and we look forward to selecting talented and deserving applicants to start next September.

1 March 2014

Workshop Open Saturday

7 June 2014

Workshop Open Saturday

26 June – 2 July 2014

Masterpiece 2014, Royal Hospital Chelsea

13 September 2014

We will be exhibiting at Alitex Open Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, South Harting

September 2014

New apprentices start

18 October 2014

Workshop Open Saturday

7 March 2015

Workshop Open Saturday

18 May 2015

Final date for registering interest in the Foundation Apprenticeship

Visit our website for more detailed information.

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BackgroundThe Trust is based at the workshop of Edward Barnsley CBE (1900-1987) in a beautiful corner of rural Hampshire. Edward Barnsley’s approach to furniture-making was rooted in the Arts & Crafts Movement, in which his father and uncle, Sidney Barnsley and Ernest Barnsley, were key figures. Edward Barnsley became one of the most influential designer-makers of the twentieth century. His workshop, which he established in 1923, is renowned for making the highest quality furniture.

Why Was The Trust Set Up?For people wanting a career in fine furniture-making it is almost impossible to find workshop-based training. Small workshops cannot afford to offer apprenticeships. Apprentices need good supervision to learn skills. They need time to build up enough experience to make

furniture at a pace that is commercially viable. In 1980, to offer apprenticeships and to pass on the skills and experience developed in the Edward Barnsley Workshop a group of supporters founded the Trust.

The Trust Apprenticeship SchemeIn the workshop there are four apprentices, guided by a craftsman-tutor, working alongside experienced craftsmen. Apprentices follow a carefully structured syllabus. The first pieces are made entirely by hand. More experienced apprentices make furniture commissioned by the Barnsley Workshop’s clients. Apprentices receive regular feedback. There is great demand for the training we offer with more than ten applicants for each place. We operate a rigorous selection process and recruit the most talented and enthusiastic people. At the end of their training we help apprentices find employment. Training in the Barnsley Workshop is highly regarded. Other furniture workshops frequently contact us, looking to recruit our apprentices.

Our AchievementsSince 1980 the Trust has trained almost sixty people and, significantly, nearly all of them continue to earn their living making high quality furniture. Many of them have gone on to set up their own furniture-making businesses. James Ryan, who is a former apprentice and now manager of the Barnsley Workshop, is chairman of the Bespoke Guildmark Committee at the Furniture Makers’ Company. Two of our apprentices have been selected to represent the UK in cabinet-making at the WorldSkills competition. Held every two years, it is the biggest international skills competition for young people. Gary Tuddenham won the gold medal in Tokyo in 2007.

Current SituationIn September 2013 we welcomed two new Foundation Apprentices to the workshop. The rest of the workshop team comprises two second-year apprentices, two craftsmen, a craftsman-tutor and a designer-manager.

Our CostsEach September we take on two first-year apprentices and we offer a further year of training to two of our current apprentices. We provide our apprentices with free

The Edward Barnsley Educational TrustIn a unique historic workshop we train apprentices to become the top furniture-makers of the future.

We are keeping valuable craft skills alive.

Paulo de Vasconcelos with some his work made during his first year in the Barnsley Workshop.

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Early days of the Educational Trust l. to r. Edward Barnsley, Giles Garnham, Colin Eden-Eadon and George Taylor.

training and financial support. To employ a craftsman-tutor and train four apprentices we need to raise at least £74,000 for 2014. That figure includes Foundation Apprentice annual bursaries of £7,200 each, the wage costs of senior apprentices and the craftsman-tutor plus a share of the workshop overheads.

Our SupportersWe apply for support to many charities and trusts. Individual supporters of the Trust are invited to join our Friends organisation. In 2013 we received generous support from many organizations including:

The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust

The Carpenters’ Company

The Charlotte Bonham Carter Trust

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

The Ernest Cook Trust

The Furniture Makers Company

The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust

Garfield Weston Foundation

The Golsoncott Foundation

Hargreaves and Ball Trust

The Hedley Foundation

The Jane Hodge Foundation

NADFAS

The Newby Trust

The Radcliffe Trust

SummaryIn furniture-making it is very hard to find workshop-based training. Skilled craftspeople rarely have enough time or money to engage apprentices. We are an educational charitable trust based in a historically important workshop. We teach talented people to become commercially viable furniture-makers. Our supporters help us train the next generation of skilled furniture-makers.

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Colin Eden-Eadon 1981 Tutor at the Building Crafts College, LondonGiles Garnham 1981 Contact lostRobert Lawrence 1981 Furniture maker, HampshireDarren Harvey 1984 Furniture maker, AustraliaChristopher Butler 1985 Proprietor, Christopher Butler FurnitureMichael Shally 1985 Draughtsman, HampshireFrank Roper 1986 Contact lostHamish Low 1987 Proprietor, Adamson and Low Cabinet Makers Adam Gamble 1987 Proprietor, Adam Gamble FurnitureStephen Rock 1988 Craftsman-Tutor at the Barnsley WorkshopPhillip Brown 1989 Proprietor, Kraftwork, a kitchen and furniture companySean Casey 1989 Furniture tutor at Chichester CollegeRichard Ash 1990 Furniture maker and teacher, New ZealandRobert Surgey 1990 DeceasedYasunori Nagao 1990 Furniture maker at the Arts and Crafts Village, JapanFrederik Lundquist 1992 Furniture maker, SwedenColin Norgate 1992 Proprietor, Colin Norgate WorkshopJames Ryan 1992 Designer-Manager of the Edward Barnsley Workshop/Freelance designerBjorn Wenzel 1993 Furniture maker, SwedenStephen Lamont 1994 Proprietor, Stephen Lamont FurnitureDuncan Hitchings 1995 Furniture maker, DevonSimon Owen 1996 Furniture maker, SussexTheo Cook 1997 Furniture maker, SurreyVincent Large 1998 Proprietor, Kambium FurnitureSimon Pretty 2000 Proprietor, Simon Pretty FurnitureGraham Christmas 2001 Furniture maker, BermudaRoss Clarke 2002 Manager for a bespoke interiors companyTony Buskas 2003 Furniture maker, SwedenGary Tuddenham 2003 Furniture maker, Cumbria. WorldSkills gold medal winnerJames Oliver 2004 Project Manager, LondonJoe Orchard 2005 Senior Craftsman at the Barnsley WorkshopSamuli Maja 2005 Furniture maker, FinlandAidan McEvoy 2005 Proprietor, AM Fine FurnitureBen Smith 2006 Furniture maker, CumbriaNathan Day 2006 Proprietor, Nathan Day Design, Yallingup, Western AustraliaAndy Cunningham 2007 Furniture maker, CheshireDan Pateman 2007 Furniture maker, SurreyRobert Culverhouse 2008 Proprietor, Robert Culverhouse Bespoke FurnitureJoshua Jaeger 2008 Furniture maker, BathNathanael Lloyd 2008 Furniture maker, LondonChristopher Wallis 2009 Craftsman at Edward Barnsley Workshop. WorldSkills finalistDouglas Williams 2009 Furniture maker, CheshireMark Tamcken 2009 Design & Technology teacher and furniture maker, BerkshireChris Adkins 2010 Furniture maker, CheshireWill Church 2010 Furniture maker, CheshireLaura Tunstall 2011 Designer at Luke Hughes and Co.Tom Keogh 2011 Furniture maker, CheshirePaulo de Vasconcelos 2012 Current apprenticeAndrew Marsh 2012 Current apprenticeDanny Humphreys 2013 Foundation ApprenticeDavid Williams 2013 Foundation Apprentice

Trainees Supported by the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust

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Please help us keep craft skills alive If you are about to write or change your will please consider supporting the work of the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust. Legacies to the Trust are tax efficient because they are free of inheritance tax. Alternatively, you may like to become a Friend of the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust and make a regular donation. For more information about legacies, the Friends Appeal and Gift Aid please contact the Trust.

Every donation makes a difference to our apprentices and is gratefully received.

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Trustees

Rodney McMahon BA, FCA (Chairman) Bill JacksonPaul Martin MA(RCA), FCSD

Clive Stewart-Lockhart FRICS, FRSA

Peter Taylor

Treasurer

Robin Hasslacher FCA

Designer-Manager

James Ryan

Review 2013 Editor

Stephen Rock

Photography

Michel Focard de Fontefiguieres LBIPP

www.focard.co.ukAdditional photography:Nick Anderson, Stephen Rock

The Barnsley Workshop is open to visitorsfrom 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.

The Edward Barnsley Educational Trust Cockshott LaneFroxfield PetersfieldHampshireGU32 1BB

01730 827233enquiries@barnsley-furniture.co.uk

www.barnsley-furniture.co.uk

Review 2013Published by:

The Edward Barnsley Educational Trust

Registered as a charity on 18 February 1980. Charity no. 279514

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enquiries@barnsley-furniture.co.uk01730 827233

www.barnsley-furniture.co.uk